Acts of Special Providence in Missionary Experience

ACTS OF SPECIAL PROVIDENCE IN MIS- SIONARY EXPERIENCE, BY W. W. CLUFF, PRESIDENT OF SUMMIT STAKE OF ZION. As an encouragemeiit to the young Elders on missions and readers of the Era, I send you an account of a remarkable presentiment or vision I had while on my second mission in the Sandwich Islands, in 1864. Complaints had been made by some of the native Elders, concerning Sandwich Island mission affairs, accusing Walter M. Gibson —afterwards and for many years the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Hawaii—of teaching false doctrine, and defrauding the native saints. The result was that Apostles Ezra T. Benson, Lorenzo Snow, with Elders Joseph F. Smith, Alma L. Smith and myself were sent to the Islands to investigate those charges. The charges against Mr. Gibson were all sustained. The Elders who preceded Mr. Gibson in that mission had leased a large tract of land from a native chief, with the privilege of purchasing it as a temporary gathering place for the Saints. Gibson collected sufficient money from the native Saints to purchase the land in trust for them, but had the deeds made out to himself and his heirs. Gibson was excommunicated from the Church. The Apostles, having filled their mission, appointed Elder Joseph F. Smith president of the mission, and returned home. We who remained were to make a tour of the several islands and reorganize and set in order the branches of the Church. Having lost possession of the gathering place on Lanai, through Gibson's rascality, we examined in pur travels many localities with a view of recommending to the Presidency the leasing or purchasing of another place for that purpose.

We' had made the entire tour of the island of Kauai and had visited most of the branches on the island of Oahu. We were stopping for a few days at a small branch at Laeie, on the northeast side of the island last named, some thirty-five miles from Honolulu, the capital city. At this place a white man (whose name I do not now remember) owned about five thousand acres of land, which he was then using as a stock ranch : it was very pleasantly situated, having about three miles front on the sea shore, and running inland to a point on the top of a high range of mountains, several miles distant. The side of this mountain was covered with timber and owing to the moist and tropical climate was perpetually green. Between the foot-hills and the sea, was a level plain of several hundred acres, covered over with luxuriant grass, interspersed here and there with dense thickets of haw brush. We were stopping at the house of a native family who were tenants of the white rancher. One day, feeling somewhat lonely and depressed in spirits, I retired to one of the thickets and knelt down in secret prayer, after which I strolled along a path winding through grass plots and haw thickets, more or less in a listless mood or reverie, when suddenly — and to my astonishment—President Brigham Young came walking up the path and met me face to face. After the ordinary greetings were exchanged, we sat down on the grass beside the path, and a brief conversation about the work on the Islands passed between us. He then referred to the beautiful landscape before us, commenting on the beautiful plain, the rich alluvial soil, the verdure covered and timbered mountain in the distance and of the beach washed by the gentle waves of the Pacific Ocean. "This," he said, "is a most delightful place!" He then arose to his feet and silently casting his eyes over the surrounding country, turned to me, and in his pleasant and familiar manner, said: "Brother William, this is the place we want to secure as headquarters for this mission." The interview then terminated and I was alone. The meeting and the interview had all seemed so real and matter of fact, that when I found myself alone I was filled with wonder and amazement. Had I suddenly awoke from a dream in which I had had such a conversation, it could not have seemed more real. Had I really been dreaming? Had I been in vision, or what had hap-

pened that so agitated my mind, and filled me with amazement? I knew I had not been dreaming. Hastening back to the house I related the strange incident to the brethren, who thought with me that it was most remarkable. That same day we made a friendly call on the gentleman who owned the property, he received us very kindly and during the conversation gave us to understand that he might be induced to sell the property. In November Elder Joseph F. Smith and myself were released to return home. In San Francisco we met three. Elders on their way to the Sandwich Islands with instructions from President Young to purchase some suitable place to establish headquarters for the mission on those Islands. We told the brethren they might go and examine all the places that might be offered for sale on any of the Islands, but if the Laeie Estate could be purchased, we were confident they would buy that property. After examining more than a score of other places, some quite as good no doubt, they at last purchased the Laeie Estate. This property is still occupied as the headquarters and gathering place for the Saints of those Islands.